December / March 2016 Danish-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce SENATOR AÉCIO NEVES EDITORIAL Brazilian Review Senator Aécio Neves What is wrong with Brazil? INTERVIEW 6 Senator Aécio Neves 6 The political situation is getting more complicated and unpredictable Mads Nipper, CEO Grundfos 26 day by day. The Lava Jato investigation is involving more key politicians Nikolaj Hübbe, Ballet master of the Royal Danish Ballet 52 and is paralyzing congress and the senate; no reforms or budget approv- als are being approved during these very hectic political times. ECONOMICS The lack of confidence in the government is very prevailing from the in- dustry and commerce leaders and business leaders and the political op- Ambassador Kim Højlund Christensen 8 position are not making any efforts towards solving the political impasse. Octavio de Barros, Bradesco 10 The political situation is very unclear and unresolved, and the impeach- Ilan Goldfajn, Banco Itaú 12 ment process against President Dilma has just started on December 2nd. Tatiana Pinheiro, Santander 14 The economic situation in Brazil is getting worse, most probably we will experience negative growth of more than 3% and inflation of 10%. Economical News 16 Moreover, the exchange rate is fluctuating between 3.80 to 4.00 Reals to the Dollar. INFORMATION The interest rate is still 14.25% which is very high and obviously in- Dansk Erhverv 28 vestments are suffering both domestically and internationally. We still Kamstrup - Becoming and remaining the best in the world 60 don’t know how the credit rating agencies will rate the credit of Brazil in the future. We hope there will not be a further downgrade of Brazil. Fritz Hansen - Colours in perfect shape 72 Brazil needs to speed up the investments in infrastructure and invest in Lars Rebien Sørensen - The best performing CEO 78 education and health and to create new jobs for the future. Chamber Humanitarian Award 2015 - Mara Gabrilli 79 It is our belief that Brazil must find a quick solution and move forward Luciano Coutinho - Chamber Award 2015 80 to create job opportunities for the future and secure reforms and eco- nomic stability and growth, which will create security and job creation Feira Escandinava 2015 82 for the future. Managing in times of turbulence and uncertainty 84 It is a complicated situation for Brazil and all political parties must Christmas in Tivoli 98 take responsibility. The business sector must look positively to the fu- ture and Brazil. PROFILES The Olympic Games which start on August 5th are moving forward; Building Lego in Brazil 30 most projects are on time. We can all look forward to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro; they will take place in the period August 5th - Pandora expanding in Brazil 32 21st and will surely be successful. Coloplast - Brazil navegates through troubled water 36 Denmark will be a very active Olympic partner with the “naval ship Lundbeck presents a novel drug product for depression 38 Denmark” anchored in front of the Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club, the ‘Danish Olympic pavilion’ on Ipanema beach and ‘the Olympic hotel’ Golden Danish Design - The future of Danish Design 40 Tulip in the heart of Copacabana - it is going to be a very exciting time Pandora - Design for individuality 42 for Denmark and for all the Olympic participants. Cimbra - A Design-Driven Business Turnaround 43 The US economy is moving in the right direction with a growth rate Light Years - A design-led way to success 44 estimated at 2.5% in 2015 and many new jobs being created every month, but we should remember that the US will have a presidential Little Sun - High-quality solar-powered 45 election which will take place in November 2016. Hans J. Wegner - The Master Chair Maker 46 The Danish Brazilian Chamber of Commerce will celebrate 70 years in VIPP - Stepping on the growth pedal 47 2016 and will host a Gala evening on July the 29th 2016 in the presence Kvadrat - The art of textile design 48 of H.R.H Joachim and H.R.H Princess Marie. The following program has been planned for 2016: Velux - Bringing daylight to people 49 BTP - Brasil Terminal Portuário 50 Feb 18th Ambassador Kim Højlund Christensen Mar 15th Business Council (GN ReSound) Widex - High Definition Hearing 56 Apr 19th Novo Nordisk, Andrzej Popkowski Novo Nordisk - 25 years of Novo Nordisk Brazil 58 May 16th Maersk Group, Carsten Følbæk Chr. Hansen - Improving food & health 64 May 24th Chamber Humanitarian Award 2016 - Lars Grael th Resound - The World’s Smartest Hearing Aids 66 Jun 20 Olympic Update / Danish Olympic Committee Jul 5th Danish-Brazilian Chamber Award 2016 Oticon - People First - On the growth path 68 Viking Life-Saving Equipment 74 I think 2016 will be a very challenging year for all of us, but I am sure we are all getting into the Olympic Weltec - World leading provider of intervention solutions 76 spirit for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and success for 2016. 22 Niels Helveg Petersen Jens Olesen President Senator Aécio Neves Aécio Neves The leader of the PSDB Party Aecio Neves was born into a political family finances in order through a reorganization In 2006, he was reelected by a landslide to in Belo Horizonte, capital of the southeast- and modernization plan. a second term, with over 77 percent of the ern state of Minas Gerais in 1960. His grand- The plan instituted a cap on government votes, the biggest share of votes ever won father Tancredo Neves was elected presi- spending, drastically reduced the number by a governor in Minas Gerais. dent in 1985, but died before taking office. of state secretariats and cut 3,000 public- In 2010, he resigned to serve in the senate Neves graduated as an economist from sector jobs, while improving services and re- and in 2013 he was elected president of his the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas establishing the state’s investment capacity. party, PSDB. Following, he was named its Gerais (PUC-Minas), and started his po- In keeping with his austerity measures, presidential candidate in the 2014 general litical career as his grandfather’s personal Neves cut his own salary by 45 percent and elections. secretary. required his closest aides to do the same. Neves ran on a platform to recover Bra- In 1987, Neves was elected federal deputy Only two years later, in 2004, he announced zil’s financial strength, boost productivity, representing his home state, a post he oc- the state’s finances had achieved a level of establish a more business-friendly atmo- cupied until 2003, when he stepped down “zero deficit,” while improving education sphere and trim the size of government by to become the governor. by becoming the first state to extend ba- closing ministries. He promised, however, As governor of Minas Gerais, one of Brazil’s sic schooling from eight to nine years, and to preserve the ruling party PT’s social pro- largest and most populated states, Neves distributing textbooks for free to middle grams, which has pulled large portions of won praise for putting the state’s ruined school students, even in Braille. the population out of poverty. Although Neves not only lost the 2014 elec- tions to PT, but also lost the election in his home state of Minas Gerais, he is still the leader of the opposition. In the wake of the Petrobras corruption scandal, Neves has been calling for the impeachment of Presi- dent Dilma Rousseff. 2016 is a vital year for Senator Aecio Neves where he must demonstrate with actions that he is the leader of the party PSDB as well as the top candidate for the elections in 2018. Neves is a father of three children, a daugh- ter from his first marriage (1991-1998) and twins born in June to his current wife Leti- cia Weber, whom he married in 2013. AMD President Fernando Henrique Cardoso 6 jul/sep 2014 and Senator Aécio Neves Your Promise. Delivered. www.maerskline.com Phone: +55 11 3527 2000 The world’s largest container shipping company and a customer-focused leader in reliable, eco-e cient transport. 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Delivered. jan/mar 2015 7 Advert_A4_HR_template.indd 1 07-01-2015 18:53:32 Corporate social responsibility Denmark - an international frontrunner It can be argued that simply by operating CSR – a Government Denmark ranging from small companies to in a foreign country, a company contributes large multinational corporations. with substantial benefits for the society – priority In 2014, the winner of the CSR Abroad both at home and abroad - in promoting Prize, awarded by the Ministry of Foreign job creation and economic growth. Why Since 2009, companies in Denmark have Affairs and the Danish Investment Fund should companies then bother with corpo- been obliged by law to address CSR in their for Developing Countries (IFU) was the rate social responsibility (CSR)? Isn’t it just annual reports. Inspired by the Danish manufacturer of outdoor furniture, Scan- “green-laundering” and additional costs model, legal requirements to report on CSR Com International A/S. This company was for the companies? are now being agreed within the EU.